CYPRIPEDIUM. 143 



thick fleshy bulbs to supply them with nourishment. They 

 are propagated by dividing the plants. 



C. barbatum. — A pretty species, with beautifully spotted 

 foliage ; the colour of the flowers brownish purple and white. 

 It produces its solitary flowers at difiierent times of the year, 

 lasting six weeks in bloom. There are many varieties of this 

 plant, some being much brighter in colour than others. 

 Native of Mount Ophir. 



C. barbatum nigrum. — A charming variety, producing finely 

 variegated foKage. The flowers are larger than those of any 

 of the other forms of C. barbatum, and the colour is much 

 darker. It blooms in July and August, and continues six 

 weeks in bloom. 



C. barbatum superbum. — A fine variety, which grows in the 

 same way as C. barbatum, but the foliage is brightly varie- 

 gated, and the flowers more handsome, the lip being very 

 dark, and the dorsal sepal purer white towards the apex : wiU 

 last about six weeks in perfection. This makes a fine plant 

 for exhibition. 



C. biflorum. — A handsome species from India, in the way of 

 C. barbatum, but with more elegantly variegated foliage ; it 

 grows four inches high. The blossoms are produced on a 

 spike ten inches long, two flowers sometimes appearing on 

 one stem ; the dorsal sepal is very handsome, the upper part 

 being beautiful white, while the other parts of the flower are 

 purplish brown. Blooms in February and March, and will 

 keep six weeks in good condition. A rare plant. 



C. carwinum. — A very cmious and elegant Orchid from 

 Peru. It has a singular grassy appearance, with long creep- 

 ing rhizomes, totally distinct fi-om those of any of the other 

 species. It grows a foot or more in height, the flower-spike 

 rising clear of the foliage, and producing from four to seven 

 flowers, of a pale green colour ; the sepals and petals have a 



